Westnet trials iiNet ADSL2+

Summary:Perth-based internet service provider Westnet has started trialling ADSL2+ services using its new parent iiNet's broadband network, with a formal launch date likely to come before the end of the year.

Perth-based internet service provider Westnet has started trialling ADSL2+ services using its new parent iiNet's broadband network, with a formal launch date likely to come before the end of the year.

The trial
is a step towards Westnet's goal of being able to
offer ADSL2+ through its new parent iiNet, which
acquired Westnet
in May. Currently Westnet offers ADSL2+
using Optus' network as well as ADSL1 from Telstra.

"We're building the product in terms of the sign-up
experience," a Westnet spokesperson said of the trial's aims. "It's
really more the front of house facilities."

Using the iiNet network could have "great cost benefits" for
Westnet, the spokesperson said. "iiNet are not looking to make any
significant margins off the back of the wholesale."

This could result in better pricing for customers or higher
download quotas, the spokesperson said. "With the Optus product
we're as competitive as we can be."

While the Optus ADSL2+ product was only offered bundled with telephone services, the
ADSL2+ product running on the iiNet network would also be offered as a stand-alone product, the spokesperson said.

The launch date for the official service was loose, according to
the spokesperson, but would occur before the end of the year,
perhaps in November.

When it goes ahead, Westnet will look to
offer the iiNet product "first and foremost", but will still
keep selling the Optus product "because there will be gaps", with
some areas only able to be serviced using Optus equipment, while
others can only access ADSL2+ through the iiNet network.

"There will be many instances where Optus are going to provide
availability of ports," the spokesperson added. "Both networks
are going to play a role for us."

iiNet had been considering migrating all Westnet customers to
iiNet equipment, not just those interested in ADSL2+. However,
iiNet CEO Michael Malone said last week that that will not be
happening for the next 12 months at least, after negotiating a new
business deal with Telstra's wholesale division to reduce the cost of supply
to Westnet for 2009.

"The objective of mass migration was to save some money, and
we're saving the money anyway without having to move and with no
execution risk. Much better for everyone,"
Malone said in a
Whirlpool post on Sunday.

On naked DSL, the spokesperson said that although Westnet had
been resisting offering the service until now, the next few months
would see the company looking into both naked and VoIP services.
"It's not really such a geek's product any more," they
said.

Suzanne Tindal cut her teeth at ZDNet.com.au as the site's telecommunications reporter, a role that saw her break some of the biggest stories associated with the National Broadband Network process. She then turned her attention to all matters in government and corporate ICT circles. Now she's taking on the whole gamut as news editor for t...
Full Bio